Soft contact lens

Abstract

A soft contact lens comprises a solid component, based on a polymer and a liquid component which is distributed in a substantially uniform manner in the solid component. The liquid component comprises an effective quantity of a compound selected from the group formed by tyrosine, derivatives of tyrosine, precursors of tyrosine and dopamine which is capable of preventing or at least limiting the progression of myopia of the eye.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A soft contact lens ( 4 ) comprising a solid component, based on a polymer, which is provided for conferring shape and structure on the contact lens and a liquid component which is distributed in the solid component, the liquid component comprises tyrosine at a concentration between 1 and 200 mg/l. 
     
     
       2. The contact lens according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of tyrosine in the liquid component is between 10 and 100 mg/l. 
     
     
       3. The contact lens according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid component comprises L-tyrosine. 
     
     
       4. The contact lens according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid component further comprises an antioxidant compound. 
     
     
       5. The contact lens according to  claim 4 , wherein the antioxidant compound comprises vitamin E or vitamin B2 or admixtures thereof. 
     
     
       6. The contact lens according to  claim 5 , wherein the vitamin E, when present, has a concentration between 2 and 20 mg/l, and the vitamin B2, when present, has a concentration between 2 and 50 μg/l. 
     
     
       7. A packaging ( 1 ) comprising a soft contact lens ( 4 ) which is immersed in a preservation solution ( 5 ), wherein the contact lens is in accordance with  claim 1 , comprising a solid component based on a polymer and a liquid component which is distributed in the solid component and in which there is dissolved tyrosine at a concentration between 1 and 200 mg/l, and the preservation solution ( 5 ) comprises tyrosine at a concentration which is at least equal to the concentration present in the liquid component. 
     
     
       8. A process for producing a soft contact lens according to  claim 1 , the process comprising:
 providing a dry semi-finished product of the lens which is based on a polymer and which is configured to form a solid component of the soft contact lens, 
 hydrating the dry semi-finished product by means of immersion in an aqueous solution so as to bring a liquid component to the solid component and to thereby obtain the soft contact lens, 
 the aqueous solution comprises tyrosine at a concentration between 1 and 200 mg/l. 
 
     
     
       9. A process for producing a soft contact lens according to  claim 1 , the process comprising:
 providing a dry semi-finished product of the lens which is based on a polymer and which is configured to form a solid component of the soft contact lens, 
 hydrating the dry semi-finished product by means of immersion in an aqueous solution so as to bring a liquid component to the solid component and to thereby obtain the soft contact lens, 
 packaging the soft contact lens inside a container in which it is immersed in a preservation solution, 
 subjecting the packaging containing the soft contact lens to a sterilizing processing operation in an autoclave, 
 the preservation solution comprises tyrosine at a concentration between 1 and 200 mg/l.